WWII veteran Sam Avolicino, who recently turned 103, shares his tips for a fulfilling life, crediting good wine, good food, and his 72-year marriage to his wife, Agnes.
Born in Italy, he immigrated to the US as a baby and served in the Army Air Force during the war.
He was stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida, and later reassigned to the Nuremberg Opera House, where he helped entertain troops and welcomed American entertainers.
“I’m Italian, so pasta is the first thing that comes to my mind,” he began.
“I enjoyed my mother’s food for so long. As a kid, I grew up with good homemade pasta, and the Italian custom was that you drank a little wine with water because it’s good for the blood. So maybe that’s an excuse, but it’s okay.”
“Wine, good pasta and no stress, and a good wife." Sam Avolicino, an East Bay World War II veteran who turned 103 this week, shared his keys to a long and happy life. https://t.co/LeFGi9thji pic.twitter.com/3Tsuc2x3Qk
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) November 15, 2023
“The greatest thing in my life is that I was able to be married for 72 years with my same wife,” Avolicino added.
“My CO wanted to find a person that could lead a yell. Every day, we had training, and we had drills. And I taught them some yells and some songs and things like that.”
“I landed in France one day before the war was over.”
“So I got reassigned to special services, and my CEO assigned me to the Nuremberg (Nürnberg) Opera House to entertain the troops while we waited to be shipped home,” he said.
His advice for younger generations emphasized the importance of family, faith, and respecting parental guidance.
“I recommend all children pick up on God, start to believe in the hereafter and go to church. Pray every night. God’s been the most important person in my life. Respect your parents and listen to your parents. Don’t let outside influences get to you, which is very difficult today,” he said.
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